While Youyue slept soundly under the comfort of his quilt, far away in another corner of time, the wheels of fate had already begun turning.
Konoha Village. Year 48 of the Hidden Leaf Calendar.
In the quiet of midnight, the Hokage office still glowed with lamplight.
Namikaze Minato sat at his desk, his brow deeply furrowed. His eyes, calm yet sharp, flicked back and forth across mission reports and mental images—memories burned into his mind from the videos shared in the group chat.
"The Nine Tails incident will happen on October 10... Naruto's birthday. Just a few months away."
His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table.
"Do I take the initiative, or set a trap? At this time, Obito is likely already manipulating the Mizukage in the Land of Water..."
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"In just three years, the Blood Mist purge of Kekkei Genkai users begins. Should I deploy Anbu to infiltrate Hidden Mist early?"
His gaze drifted to a framed photo on the desk—him and Jiraiya, laughing like old friends.
And in that instant, a new thought struck Minato like lightning.
"Jiraiya's disciples in the Land of Rain..."
"Yahiko, Nagato, Konan."
The video showed it clearly: these three, once hopeful youth seeking peace, would eventually become the feared leaders of the Akatsuki.
But that future wasn't written yet.
Right now, the Akatsuki was still just a small idealistic group. A family, bonded by war and loss—still pure in heart.
Until Shimura Danzo happened.
That man...
Minato clenched his fist.
Danzo's plan to abduct Konan had led directly to Yahiko's death, and the emotional devastation turned Nagato into the vengeful "Pain"—a self-proclaimed god who would plunge the ninja world into chaos.
"He didn't just ruin the Rain's peace... he created a monster. And after all that, he vanished into the shadows like he had nothing to do with it."
Danzo was the real poison.
And Minato had no intention of letting history repeat itself.
"This time… I won't let him."
He hit a button on his desk.
Moments later, a masked Anbu ninja appeared.
"Lord Hokage."
"Investigate Danzo. I want to know if he's still in the village."
"At once."
The Anbu vanished.
Not long after, he returned with a report.
"Elder Danzo left the village ten hours ago with over a dozen Root operatives."
Minato's face hardened.
"Damn it."
Without hesitation, he vanished in a flicker of golden light—teleporting directly to the gates of Konoha.
"F-Fourth Hokage?!" the startled guards exclaimed.
Minato gave a curt nod before disappearing again into the night.
"I've failed too many times. Obito… Rin… Not again."
Land of Rain.
As always, a suffocating mist hung over the land. Rain fell in fine sheets, soaking the battlefield nestled between the mountains.
Below, members of Hanzo's army and Danzo's Root operatives had already surrounded the Akatsuki trio.
On a rocky ledge stood Hanzo, arms crossed, glaring down at his prey.
"Yahiko of the Akatsuki... Your dream ends here. This place will be your grave."
Manipulated by Danzo's silver tongue, Hanzo had come to believe that Yahiko and his ideals threatened his control over the Rain.
Now, Konan stood bound, helpless. A bargaining chip.
A sharp kunai landed at Nagato's feet.
"You. Red hair. Kill Yahiko. Do that, and you and the girl may leave."
Nagato's hands trembled. His heart writhed.
Konan screamed through her gag, tears welling in her eyes.
"Don't listen, Nagato! Yahiko—just run, both of you!"
But Hanzo's voice cut cold through the storm.
"You would let her die? Decide. Now."
Finally, Yahiko stepped forward, his voice low and resolute.
"Nagato... It's okay."
"You must live. Keep fighting for our dream."
The kunai in Nagato's hand shook. His knees buckled. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe.
He raised the weapon—
Clang!
Another kunai whistled through the air, stabbing into the ground.
Everyone froze.
And then—golden light tore through the rain, illuminating the battlefield.
In a heartbeat, a figure appeared in front of Yahiko and Nagato, standing like a shield of justice.
The white cloak, the flowing golden hair, the unmistakable words on his back:
"Fourth Hokage"
Namikaze Minato had arrived.
"Just in time," he whispered, panting.
Despite the Chakra drain from his journey, he hadn't come too late. Not this time.
Hanzo and Danzo stared, stunned.
"Minato Namikaze?!"
Danzo's face darkened, rage bubbling under the surface.
It's always you. Always standing in my way.
He sneered and stepped forward.
"Lord Hokage. Do you intend to violate the Rain's sovereignty and trigger war?"
"Because if this escalates… it will be your name that starts it."
But Minato didn't flinch.
He stared Danzo down.
"You left the village without authorization."
"You crossed borders. Interfered in foreign affairs. What is your real goal here, Elder Danzo?"
Danzo stiffened.
Could he have figured out my plan for the Rinnegan...?
Truthfully, he had only recently discovered that Nagato possessed the Rinnegan, a gift seeded long ago by Madara Uchiha.
Danzo had hoped to seize it amidst the chaos.
But Minato couldn't know that.
…Could he?
Regardless, Danzo wasn't about to confess.
"I came to uphold justice," he said, voice righteous.
"This Akatsuki group is a domestic threat. They've attacked Hidden Rain shinobi and seek to overthrow its government."
At that, Yahiko stepped forward, eyes blazing.
"That's a lie!"
"We've never attacked anyone! Don't believe him, Lord Hokage!"
Minato turned, smiling gently.
"Don't worry, junior brothers. I believe you."
Yahiko and Nagato blinked.
"Junior… brothers?"
"Jiraiya," Minato explained, "is my teacher too."
Yahiko's eyes widened in realization.
"Then... you're the legendary senior brother he always praised?"
"He said no genius could ever match you…"
Yahiko gave a shaky laugh.
"I didn't expect the Fourth Hokage to be our big brother... You're amazing."
Behind that smile, Minato's eyes sharpened again—back on Danzo.
This time… I will not let tragedy win.